Updated
Overview
Peru has 2.7 times the population of Bolivia: 34.58 million people against 12.58 million (2025).
Peru's economy is 5.2 times the size of Bolivia's, at $334.85B versus $64.77B.
Per person, Peru is the wealthier of the two: $9,684 against $5,148 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Peru | Bolivia | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $334.85B | $64.77B | 2025 | $289.22B / $49.67B |
| GDP per capita | Higher: $9,684 | $5,148 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 3.4% | -1.6% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: 1.5% | 19.5% | 2025 | 2.0% / 5.1% |
| Unemployment | 5.1% | Lower: 3.0% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 51 | 40 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | Higher: $563 | $462 | 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $273 | Higher: $362 | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $4.99 | — | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 34.58 million | 12.58 million | 2025 | 32.77 million / 12.44 million |
| Population growth | 1.0% | 1.3% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 30.2 yrs | 25.2 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.94 | 2.50 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | Higher: 77.9 yrs | 68.7 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 86% | 72% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | Higher: 82% | 80% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 1,285,216 km² | 1,098,581 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 26.9/km² | 11.5/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 70 Mt | Lower: 29 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 2.1 t | 2.3 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $2.57B | $655.13M | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 0.9% | 1.4% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 158,000 | 71,000 | 2020 | — / — |
Sources by row: World Bank WDI, IMF WEO, UN WPP 2024, ILOSTAT, The Economist. Emphasis marks the stronger figure where one direction is meaningfully better.
Reading the numbers
Economy
Peru grew while the other economy contracted: 3.4% against -1.6%.
Inflation is a serious concern in Bolivia at 19.5%, while the other economy sits at 1.5%.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Bolivia: a price level of 40 versus 51 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Peru: $563 against $462 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Bolivia is the younger society: median age 25.2 versus 30.2 years.
Life expectancy is 9.2 years longer in Peru (77.9 vs 68.7).
Peru is considerably more urbanized: 86% of people live in cities, against 72%.
Geography
By land area, Peru is 17% larger than Bolivia: 1,285,216 km² versus 1,098,581 km².
The two share a land border, which shapes their trade, migration, and security relationship.
Peru is far more densely settled: 27 people per km² against 11.
Military
Peru spends 3.9 times as much on defence as Bolivia: $2.57B versus $655.13M (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Peru fields the larger armed forces: 158,000 personnel against 71,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Peru bigger than Bolivia?
- Peru is larger by land area. Peru covers 1,285,216 km² while Bolivia covers 1,098,581 km², so Peru is 17% larger than the other.
- Which has more people, Peru or Bolivia?
- Peru has the larger population: 34.58 million versus 12.58 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Peru richer than Bolivia?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Peru is richer: $9,684 against $5,148. Total GDP tells the same story: $334.85B for Peru versus $64.77B for Bolivia.
- Who spends more on their military, Peru or Bolivia?
- Peru spends more: $2.57B versus $655.13M per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).